Big Fish
I always love when a movie touts that it was "nominated" for an award. It's like bragging that you took eighth in the 200 meter dash in the Olympics. When people ask out of how many, you say out of eight.I actually saw this movie on the recommendation of Briney. He claimed it as being a great movie that was really fun. Since Briney tends to like more mainstream, good movies I figured it was worth seeing.
Tim Burton is the director of the flick. I tend to have a love/hate relationship with Mr. Burton. I like some of his stuff but his man-love for Johnny Depp and putting him in everything along with his reusing of movie ideas and his "eccentric" nuttiness get in the way a lot of times for me.
The movie stars a pretty good cast. Ewan McGregor (Star Wars...was much better in II and III) is the main character for the most part. Billy Crudup (Sleepers) is his sniveling son. The wonderful Albert Finney (Amazing Grace - see this movie) is the older version of the main character who I think is the most lovable character in the movie; especially the bathtub scene.
So the movie is basically about Edward Bloom, Crudup's character's father, who spins big tales of his life. Bloom is dying of cancer and his son, Will, is visiting him for his last time and trying to get the real story of his father's life out of his father. What we're subjected to is seeing parts of Edward's in flashbacks. So by listening to his father's stories, which involve some pretty out there experiences (hence the "Big Fish" title), he's trying to learn about who his father was, is, and his shortcomings.
That's what they tell me at least. What I sat through was random stories that were pieced together and involved some of the same characters. I think Burton tried to get us in the whimsical mood and feeling like grown up children (like Edwards is suppose to be). In respect to myself, I was incredibly board and found no greater moral to the story other than not to be a whiny son if my dad ever tells me outlandish tales. Oh and the ending, makes no sense!
Grade - D
*Yawn* Wha? Huh? Oh, it's over? What was the plot about again? This movie tried to be a movie that ties everything together like M. Night Shamalanadingdong's movies and fails miserably. Most of the movie are short stories that make no sense to the bigger picture. There were no shocks of amazement or gasps of realization. This movie is just boring and tries to be "bigger" than it really is. Also...the ending makes no sense!
